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2/26/2010
Tough to tarnish Kagen
Rep. Charlie Rangel, longtime Representative from New York and long-protected by Speaker Pelosi, has finally been admonished by the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct.
The House ethics committee said on Thursday that it had admonished Representative Charles B. Rangel for violating Congressional gift rules by accepting corporate-sponsored trips to the Caribbean in 2007 and 2008.
But the ethics panel … did not issue findings in its continuing inquiries into more serious matters concerning Mr. Rangel’s fund-raising, his failure to pay federal taxes on rental income from a Dominican villa, and his use of four rent-stabilized apartments provided by a Manhattan real estate developer.
The committee’s findings, released Thursday night, admonished Mr. Rangel, even though it said it had no proof that he knew of the sponsorships. But it held him accountable because two members of his staff knew. “Representative Rangel was responsible for the knowledge and actions of his staff and the performance of their official duties,” the report said.
The Hill notes that
Rangel was seen Thursday evening approaching the chairwoman and ranking Republican on the Ethics committee -- Reps. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) and Jo Bonner (R-Ala.) -- on the House floor, angrily addressing the two members and waving a finger in Lofrgen's face.
A quality guy, this Rangel. Kevin Binversie suggests our own esteemed Rep. Steve Kagen might be tarnished by the powerful Ways and Means Committee chair – who raised a ton of money and then threw that ton of money around to fellow Dems in the house. Including one Steve Kagen. Binversie suggests taking a look at one of his favorite sites, OpenSecrets.org. Below are the numbers:
2008 Election
Total Rangel PAC contributions to federal candidates (92), $899,000
Rangel PAC contributions to Steve Kagen, $10,000
Rangel campaign contribution to Kagen 4 Congress, $10,000$4,000
2006 Election
Total Rangel PAC contributions to federal candidates (119), $566,000
Rangel PAC contributions to Steve Kagen, $5,000
Rangel campaign contribution to Kagen 4 Congress, $5,000 $2,000
$30,000 $21,000 from Rangel to Kagen. Is it enough to tarnish the good doctor? I’d say Both Rangel and Kagen will easily slip through this one. I’m waiting for the lowdown on Dominican Villa and Manhattan apartment deals; hopefully Rep. Lofgren is motivated to wrap that investigation up well before November. (Wondering if Lofgren was among the Dem Representatives Rangel contributed to? Not on your life.)
Jo Egelhoff, FoxPolitics.net
COMMENTS
I'm glad to see that the ethics Committee is doing some work. Bring it on, I'm sure they can keep quite busy. As far as the Kagen connection, how about we use the six degrees of separation rule. If a candidate received money from someone who ever received money from someone else , who ever received money from another someone etc. up to six levels. Look for anyone corrupt in that chain then target the ultimate recipient whether they knew about it or not. Then we'll be sure to cover everyone just fine. This includes corporations and unions of course since they are people too, just part of the family.
dave allen (Fri Feb 26 06:54:03 2010)
Everybody does it, so is that a vote for untarnished?
Jo (Fri Feb 26 06:59:36 2010)
"Everybody does it, so is that a vote for untarnished?"
I'd say that's a vote for TARNISHED for all of them!
While not the primary focus of my criteria for a vote, I would be swayed toward a candidate that has the backbone to say no to money from any person or entity they don't directly represent. Better - only taking money from INDIVIDUALS geographically LIVING in their area of representation, but I know that's asking a lot.
Politicians passing around the campaign $'s, just like passing the crack pipe ... that's the way I see it. And yes, BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE ARE GUILTY. I get that.
Jeff Riedl (Fri Feb 26 07:44:09 2010)
A scene from a recent Washington off Broadway play:
POT-Hello Kettle
KETTLE-Yes Pot
POT-You're black
KETTLE-So I am
Musical refrain....."Its the same old song but the beat is different since you've been gone"
billie (Fri Feb 26 08:10:38 2010)
Jo,
You're double counting donations. PACs can only max-out to House candidates at $10,000 a cycle ($5,000 a primary, $5,000 a general election), so it was $10,000 for 2008, and $5,000 for 2006.
Rangel also gave an additional $6,000 to Kagen as a person; $4,000 in 2008 and $2,000 in 2006.
Kevin Binversie (Fri Feb 26 08:26:38 2010)
Also, I'm just following Kagen's lead here Jo. Recall when the Mark Foley scandal hit in 2006, Kagen and State Democrats were DEMANDING Gard to return all donations Gard got from Foley AND all GOP House leadership.
Tit for tat, Jo. We need to hit them like they've hit us.
Kevin Binversie (Fri Feb 26 08:30:28 2010)
Right from the source. Thanks Kevin. I'll make the changes and site the Open Secrets Congressional campaign committee page as well as the PAC.
Jo (Fri Feb 26 10:16:32 2010)
There are several types of politicians relative to money. The unelected who never took money from a questionable source but never got elected. The elected who never took money from a questionable source and did get elected. The ones who take money from a questionable source and also get elected. Mixed in there is whether the money that was taken ever directly or indirectly influenced the politician's actions. Because of the recent Supreme Court decision, politicians are going to require even more money. And so it goes. If a politician funds his own campaign he is labeled"Dr. Millionaire" if he takes money from PACs that may have a downstream taint then people try to taint him. We are destroying our public figures and the institutions they govern with our political system's insatiable demand for money. We will destroy ourselves in the process.
dave allen (Fri Feb 26 13:33:54 2010)
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